Castles in Japan

(Jan. 23, 2011) I want to write one more article about our time in Beppu on Japan’s southern Island of Kyushu. During that two-week stay we visited three sites of the historic old castles scattered around Japan. The first visit was to the town of Nakatsu to visit Nanatsu Castle located barely more than a stone’s throw from the shore of the Inland Sea on the northeast side of the island. Construction on the old five story Tenshu or main structure started in 1588 and was the residence of warlords for about 300 years until it was burned in an uprising against the government in 1877. The second site we visited was Kumamoto Castle in the city of Kumamoto. This old castle which is one of Japan’s most impressive castles is built on a hill overlooking the city and is a beautiful sight from almost anywhere in the city. Work on the six story main structure started in 1607. There are a several watchtowers along the massive stone walls that protected the castle making it one of the most impenetrable castles in the country for several centuries. The third and last castle site visited was the ruins of Oka Castle in the town of Bungo Taketa in the very heart of the mountains on the island of Kyushu.  The castle was built in 1185 on a mountaintop. The castle must have been an impressive sight and the view from the castle no doubt equally impressive. It’s an impressive and beautiful sight today even though only the massive stone walls remain and I thoroughly enjoyed the visit.